Cllr Darragh Butler (FF), who has been campaigning for some time for the castle to be in more regular use for community events, asked what part the landmark building in Swords would play in this year's St Patrick's Day celebrations. The council responded, saying: 'It is hoped to host a Celtic re-enactmenttype event on the evening of St Patrick's Day in Swords Castle.

'This is subject to a successful application for Gathering funding and the castle being in a suitable condition to use.' A senior executive officer at the council expanded on the written report on the issue, saying that the council was looking at not only the castle but the town park adjacent to it to see how both spaces could be utilised on the national patron saint's day. He said the council had made an application for Gathering funding to the Government and there would be more details on what is planned for the day available next month.

Cllr Butler welcomed news that the castle would be used on the evening of St Patrick's Day, but expressed the hope it would be open during the daytime to the thousands of people who will be drawn to the county capital on the day for its renewed annual parade. Cllr David O'Connor (NP) agreed and said if the council were to open the castle at all on the day it should make every effort to have all of the castle's attractions open. Peter Hussey from the council's parks division said the local authority would ' respond positively', providing all the health and safety issues around access to the castle could be worked out.